Jot Thought’s Reviews

A Very Critical Analysis of Bagger Vance  By Jaanu The Mahabharata is a Hindu epic. Like the Homeric legends, it’s full of twists and intrigue, capturing the imagination and the subconsciousness of Indians for much of known history. It’s a story widely known and, despite controversial stories within the greater epic, has many deeply meaningful…

Among Schoolchildren, by Tracy Kidder This nonfiction account is a moving and inspiring portrait of a most noble profession: teaching. It’s an amazing truth that many people often remember their teachers from early schooling all through life. I remember my teachers vividly— many for good, transformative reasons. I recently met an 82-year-old gentleman at a…

Harry Potter Deserved Better By Jaanu Please indulge my inner bookworm for a moment. You may take these musings with a grain of salt, and if you haven’t read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise, you may encounter spoilers or may feel out of your element. What is the purpose of a great fictional universe? The…

By Navin I told a joke today in a group setting, and the room exploded in laughter. As one friend clapped, and another patted me on the back, I couldn’t help but observe the differences in how each person expressed amusement. The moment sparked curiosity: why do we laugh? And why does laughter make us…

Dark Waters: A Film Review A Masterclass in Accountability The right person is the hero in this movie. He’s not a Bruce Wayne-style vigilante, delivering justice with a mob of hitmen on his trail. He’s a lawyer, just a good person who starts delivering justice because his conscience won’t let him choose another course of…

Top 5 Scenes in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban A Film Review You really see the best and worst of human nature in this third book of the Harry Potter series. Whether it’s Fred and George, who give away a valuable map for free, or Hermione, who puts everything on the line to…

Why should I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad? Book review by Jaanu It’s long been considered a bible of sorts to the aspiring businessman or woman. But does it deserve the clout it has? Or is this snake oil? I got this book as a gift for a birthday some years ago- at that time,…

Why Laapataa Ladies is a Cinematic Masterpiece   Laapataa Ladies (which means Missing Ladies) is a 2024-released Netflix film, which, during the time of this writing, sits at a glorious 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. I believe the brilliant reception this film has gotten is entirely well deserved. It’s an ode to India’s rich tradition and…

Themes and Hidden Messages in Miyazaki’s Spirited Away If you’ve heard of Studio Ghibli, you’ve probably heard of famed director Hayao Miyazaki. His reputation precedes him tremendously. Hardly a year goes by that someone doesn’t recommend his famous film “Spirited Away” to watch. But what makes this famous movie worth the watch? And what are…

Why the Weasley Twins are by far the Best Weasleys This character review column began as- albeit a nerdy- a way for me to share opinions about characters that I liked or disliked in books. It slowly shifted into a column to review literature, but this month, we’ve returned to our roots. The Weasley family…